By Jeanne SagerNEVERSINK  July 4, 2003  It takes a village to raise a child, and when it comes to a youngster fighting cancer  it takes a whole community to get through the pain.
Since 10-year-old Amy Paes was diagnosed with epitheloid sarcoma, a soft-tissue cancer, last August, everyone from Neversink firefighters to Tri-Valley business leaders have opened their hearts and their wallets to help her get through.
A benefit basketball game was held as a fundraiser for the family. The Future Business Leaders of America sponsored a blood drive in her name.
And every bit of the money has gone to help a girl with a bright spirit and sparkling eyes stave off the pain of losing her childhood.
Paes mom, Lori, said they have Medicaid and supplemental Child Health Plus to cover the costly medical procedures that the Tri-Valley fifth grader has undergone in recent months  shes been through months of radiation and lost part of her right leg to amputation.
But insurance doesnt cover the cost of driving every day to Westchester Medical Center. It doesnt pay for pads for Amys crutches or modified childrens toys to help her work around her amputated leg.
And it doesnt pay for watching your child cry in pain.
On rainy, nasty days, shes in a lot more pain, Lori Paes said. And when shes in pain, shes awful.
She doesnt eat well, she vomits  the morphine can rip you up inside.
Watching that is awful for any parent.
And it pushed John Whiteman, a Woodbourne resident who attends Calvary Baptist in Loch Sheldrake  the Paes church  to action.
Whiteman has put together a barbecue, set for Sunday, July 6, at the firehouse on Route 55 in Neversink to benefit the family.
Whiteman has two children of his own  including a daughter close to Paes age.
Now theyre just really trying to make her comfortable  I cant even imagine that being my child, he said. The cancer thing, especially with kids, gets me.
Most things people worry about arent important.
This is.
Whiteman hopes the family will be able to use the money on a trip to Disney World, funded by the Make a Wish Foundation.
Other funds will go to help the family cover various costs.
Lori Paes and Amys stepdad, Joseph Camisa, and Amys dad, Ron Paes, have been using the communitys support to make their daughters life as easy as possible. Monies donated earlier in the year were used to buy her a special bicycle that she can use despite her leg  so she can keep up with her sister, three brothers and foster brother.
We want to keep her as normal a child as we possibly can, Lori noted.
The Tri-Valley community and school has been very supportive, she continued. If it wasnt for them, I dont know how wed do it.
To support the family, stop by the barbecue Sunday after 5 p.m.
There will be hot dogs, burgers, chicken, steak, snacks and more.
The cost will be $7 for adults, $5 for children ages 6 to 14 and free for kids 5 and under. Advanced tickets are suggested, but there will still be some at the door. For more information, call 436-4438, 985-2534 or 985-7410.